Cover letter for a law school student (5 samples)

This article will show samples of “cover letters for a law school student.”

How to write a law school student cover letter

When writing a cover letter as a student here are some of the things to include in the letter:

• Mention your fresh knowledge. Use your recent learning experiences to your advantage; an employer might be more willing to hire you if they know you can help their business acclimate to new technologies or practices.

• Express your energy and enthusiasm. It shows the potential motivation you will bring to a job as a fresh college graduate.

• Check your grammar and proofread your letter. It is a way of showing employers your ability to write comprehensive, error-free messages.

• The first step is addressing the employer with a formal salutation. For example, “Dear/Hello (name of the recipient).” If you do not know the name of the recipient, you can refer to them as the hiring manager.

• The next step is to state the position you are applying for and how you found the opening. 

• Make a brief statement about why you’re interested in the position.

• Since you are a recent graduate, it would help to emphasize your college coursework, internships, and other experiences that show your employability.

• Ensure your qualifications are similar to the job position. 

• Conclude your letter with a forward-looking statement. For example, “I look forward to discussing the position with you further.”

Sample 1: “Cover letter for a law school student”

“November 1, 2020

Mr. John Smith

XYZ District Attorney’s Office

123 Anywhere Street

Newtown, NY

73304

Dear Mr. Smith,

I am a second-year student at ZYX Law School and I’m elated to be writing to you in response to your posting for a spring intern at your downtown office. I have been a passionate advocate for many social justice movements in the downtown core, and feel working at the XYZ District Attorney’s Office would be an invaluable experience. I am also confident that I have several established skills that would make me a great addition to your office over the course of the fourth month position.

I attended ABC University for my undergraduate degree and received my honors degree in Justice, Political Policy and Law in 2017, with a minor focus in Labor Studies. Prior to beginning my current program, I accepted a part-time position as a youth program coordinator at Newtown’s Indigenous community center. I thoroughly enjoy drafting and organizing programs that will benefit the young minds in this city, and throughout my academic and professional endeavors, I’ve grown to be the passionate, dedicated law student I am today.

I am passionate about social justice and empowerment which is why a role interning at your office not only piqued my interest as somebody eager to learn more about district law, but somebody who is so excited about working in this city. I also firmly believe I am capable of demonstrating the intensive research skills and organizational abilities required for this role, as I exceeded in political research and research analytics during my undergraduate degree, specifically with my fourth-year thesis, where I presented my case on the relation of Generational Trauma, Systemic Racism and Social Welfare Crises. Last summer, I completed an internship at CDF Law Firm as a research assistant and thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I successfully compiled and drafted several documents during my two months at CDF, and, I learned how to best organize my findings in an approachable and concise manner.

Overall, I feel an internship at XYZ District Attorney’s Office would be phenomenal opportunity. I feel in this position, I’d be able to successfully enhance my skills as a law professional, and learn new research and leadership skills that will be imperative to my growth and will contribute to my journey toward one day becoming a District Attorney myself. I have a lot to learn, but I know I have a lot of value and skill to offer.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to review my cover letter. I look forward to connecting with you. I can be reached at (102)-304-1234, or by email, jane@zyx.student.com.

Sincerely,

Jane Doe”

Sample 2: “Cover letter for a law school student”

“ABC County Municipal Government Center

1999 Anytown Ave – 18

Anycity, NY

01234-45

March 10, 2018

To Whom it may Concern,

I am a third year ABC Law student determined to pursue a career as a public defender, which is why I am excited to be formally applying for your internship at ABC Country Municipal Government Centre. I have an extensive background studying criminal law and public defence, both in my post secondary courses and internships, and volunteer endeavors. I feel my combination of experience and dedication to becoming a law professional allow me to demonstrate the skills necessary for this role, including knowledge of the criminal justice system, municipal law, and defence, as well as impeccable analytical and critical thinking abilities.

Last summer, I worked for the Public Defender Service for the District of CBA as a part-time intern. There, I helped my designated attorney prepare for trial and conducted extensive research on cases specific to juveniles, as well as other crimes that impacted the community, like vandalism. I helped prepare court documents and by the end of my contract, I was preparing documents entirely on my own; they were then granted approval upon review and used in court. I also witnessed and participated in defence interviews as an observer and got a first-hand look at what it takes to not only question to convicted, but to see the big picture and understand, from a professional standpoint, what their true intent is/was. I always strive to hear everybody and ask the appropriate questions to ensure I have a thorough understanding of every case.

I have completed eight criminal law courses, with honors, in my current program, and exceeded in criminal law during my undergraduate career, too. Currently, I volunteer as a journalist for the law “paper”, that is a student-run and funded blog, at ABC University. I enjoy volunteering my time to not only to inform the law community of pertinent issues and stories in our community, but to ensure I have polished and pristine research and writing skills. I believe the only way to learn and improve, is by doing.

My training during workshops and mock trials has helped me to develop the strong oral advocacy skills critical in the courtroom, which I am looking to put to use, alongside my research, writing, and analytical skills, at an internship at your office. My academic career and professional goals, make me a strong candidate for this position. I would appreciate the chance to discuss my qualifications with you.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

John Smith”

Sample 3: “Cover letter for a law school student”

“SAMANTHA PIERCE

14 Brattle Street

Cambridge, MA 02138

(617) 495-3108

spierce@jd13.law.harvard.edu

December 1, 2010

Miriam A. Nunberg

Staff Attorney

U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights

32 Old Slip, 26th Fl.

New York, NY 10005-2500

Dear Ms. Nunberg:

I am a first-year student at Harvard Law School and am writing to apply for a volunteer summer

internship with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights in New York City. I

learned about your organization through Harvard Law School’s public service database and

through Harvard students who have interned at branches of the OCR in other cities. Interning at

the OCR would allow me to continue my commitment to civil rights in education, and I feel

confident that I could contribute substantively to the work of your office while strengthening the

skills I’ll need for a career in education law.

As a senior at Cornell University, I wrote an honors thesis on the politics of bilingual education in

California and New York, focusing on strategies for protecting minority students’ language rights. Because my career goal is to work on language issues, and discrimination generally, in American education, I wrote my master’s thesis on language policy in Spanish schools in order to gain knowledge of how other countries handle these complex issues.

This semester, I’ve gotten involved with Harvard Law School’s Advocates for Education, as well

as the Child and Youth Advocates, organizations which have exposed me to the work lawyers can do to promote education rights. Additionally, joining the Latino Law Review has kept me

updated on the issues facing minority students. My work with the Harvard Defenders has begun

to give me experience in public interest litigation, and working at the OCR would allow me to

gain experience advocating for the specific client populations I hope to assist in my career.

Because of my familiarity with language issues and New York’s bilingual education policies, as

well as my fluency in Spanish, I would be very happy to work on cases dealing with language or

national origin discrimination, but I’d also be delighted at the opportunity to work in any of the

areas on which your office focuses, including LGBT and disability rights.

I have enclosed a resume highlighting my education and work experience. I hope to have the

opportunity to interview with you about a summer position, and I will call your office in a few

weeks to see if I may schedule a time to speak with you. Thank you in advance for your time and

consideration.

Sincerely,

Samantha Pierce”

Sample 4: “Cover letter for a law school student”

“10 Hastings Hall

Cambridge, MA 02138

January 3, 2006

Ken Johnson, Esq.

Executive Director

Bay Area Advocates

10 Union Street

San Francisco, CA 94115

Dear Mr. Johnson:

I am a first-year law student at Harvard Law School and I am writing to apply for a volunteer

internship in your office this coming summer. I was excited to learn about Bay Area Advocates

from Mary Sinclair, a staff attorney in your office who spoke at a Legal Practice Settings panel at

Harvard Law School last month. Having grown up in San Francisco, I would like to return for

the summer and hope to find an internship where I can continue my commitment to civil rights

work.

During the summer after my junior year at Duke, I volunteered at Ackerman & Alter, a small

civil rights law firm that specializes in employment discrimination. My case research explored

the civil rights of gay people who were denied jobs for which they were fully qualified and

women who received less pay than men who worked in similar positions. I learned a great deal in a relatively short amount of time about legal research and writing about civil rights litigation. It

was this fulfilling experience that prompted me to go to law school, where I could pursue civil

rights work more directly.

During my first semester at Harvard, I continued to concentrate on civil rights issues by

volunteering with the Boston chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. I have assisted our

lawyers on issues ranging from death penalty policies to fair housing legislation. My desire to

become a civil rights advocate has only increased as a result. I thoroughly believe that my

background, as well as my familiarity with the San Francisco area and its political landscape, would enable me to make significant contributions to Bay Area Advocates.

Enclosed is a detailed resume that highlights my experience and education. I would appreciate

the opportunity to meet with you to discuss summer employment and can be reached at (617)

495-8856. I will call your office next week about the possibility of arranging an interview while I

am in San Francisco the week of January 22. Thank you in advance for your time.

Sincerely,

Douglas D. Conti”

Sample 5: “Cover letter for a law school student”

“[Your Name]

[Phone Number]

[e-mail]

Dear Mr. Fredrickson,

I am writing in apply for the Law School course at ABC University. I am currently in the penultimate year of my master’s degree in business administration at DEF College, having completed an undergraduate major in political sciences.

With a strong distinction average achieved throughout my academic history while maintaining exceptional performance in various extra-curricular activities, I am an excellent candidate for this position. Some of my achievements include College Captain of the Debate team and Captain of the Basketball team. I was also elected as the Class Representative with the responsibility of acting as the voice of my peers in my penultimate year.

My interest in applying to ABC University is driven by the excellence in academic achievement and track record based on international rankings of the Law School. The prominence ABC University has achieved would be an honorable accomplishment for me should I be accepted in the Law School course.

My interest in banking litigation was born from my experience as an intern at one of the leading firms in New York and after winning a national moot competition in 2017. During my internship, I was fortunate to shadow one of the best attorneys in banking litigation with one of the notable cases being a multimillion-dollar banking dispute. In assistance, I executed thorough legal research to find a precedent to back our claims and arguments by helping the lead counsel.

My time as an intern solidified my passion for banking law and created a strong desire to learn more and become an expert in the field. I am confident in my abilities as an ideal candidate for the Law School course with ample achievements and experience supporting my application.

I believe that my legal research skills combined with my exceptional verbal and written communication abilities place me in a strong position to positively contribute to the course. Kindly find enclosed my resume together with my academic transcript for your reference.

I look forward to hearing from you soon and am excited to progress further in this application. Thank you for your time and kind consideration.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Phone Number]

[e-mail]”

Frequently Asked Questions: How to write a law school student cover letter

How do I write a cover letter for a law student?

Tips for using your cover letter to stand out

• Make it personal. 
• Prioritize the positive. 
• Get to the point. 
• Set the right tone.

How do you address a cover letter for law school?

You should address the recipient by their first name. For example; “Dear Mr.,” “Dear Ms.,” “Dear Mx.,” “Dear [First Name] [LastName],” or “Dear Judge.”

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Citations

https://bemoacademicconsulting.com/blog/law-student-cover-letter-samples

https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/allcoverlettersweb2011.pdf